norcross



(No Model.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. A. NOROROSS,

AUTOGRAPHIG REGISTER. No. 546,427. Patented Sept. 17, 1895.

lgacoln Geomeflflarcrow,

(No Moclel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. A. NOROROSS. AUTOGRAPHIG REGISTER.

Patented Sept. 17,1895.

1/144 .1! 92 M am LEE J HIM!- l ll iw V lgacglr Wilgcsscs ANDREW HERMAN. PHUTD-LITNOVWASHINGTUN DB Srnrns A'rnn'r GEORGE A. NORCROSS, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF 'llVO-THIRDS TO G. R. SULLIVAN AND J. O. SULLIVAN, F SAME PLACE.

AUTOGRAPHIQ REGISTER.

3P OIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,427, dated September 17, 1895.

Application filed September 26, 1894:. Serial No. 524,177- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. Nononoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Autograph-Register, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to autograph-registers, the objects in view being to provide improved :0 means for guiding, stampingyoutting, and filing a record bill and discharging original and d uplicate bills; to provide improved means for guiding the strips of paper and holding the carbon or duplicating paper in operative position; furthermore, to provide improved means for operating the several parts of the mechanism to insure accuracy and facilitate the subsequent permanent filing of the record-bills.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a register embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4- is a transverse section on the line l: 4 of Fig. 2. Fig.

5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective of the filing-springs. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the holding-bars for the carbon or duplicating paper.

5 Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlugs.

v 1 designates a shell or casing provided at one side of its center with a writing-plate 2,

which is preferably inclined downward toward the end of the casing, and 3 represents a series of supply-rolls having their trunnions at mounted rotatably in thelower ends of bearing-slots 5, which extend upward to the upper 4 5 edges of the sides of the casing, whereby said rolls may be dropped into place when the writing-plate, which is hinged or pivoted at its outer end, is elevated. The strips from the said supply-rolls extend around a guide or direction pulley 6, located near the outer end of the writing-plate, and thence extend over the writing-plate to the feed-rolls 7 and 8. The lower roll 7 is provided upon one side of the casing with an operating-handle 9, and the upper feed-roll is held in the proper frictional contact with said lower roll by means of set-screws 10, which bear at their lower es:- tremities upon the trunnions of said roll.

Mounted rotatably in hearings on the writlug-plate, at the inner and outer ends thereof and adjacent to one side edge, is a roll 11, upon which is reeled carbon orduplicating paper 12, and hinged at their outer ends to the writing plate or the casing of the register, adjacent to the outer end of said writiug-plate,are the holding-bars 13, which are capable of independent movement.

In adjusting the mechanism for operation,

the lowermost or record strip is stretched over the surface of the writing'plate, and in con- 73 tact therewith the sheet of carbon or duplicating paper 12 is extended laterally across the writing-plate upon the upper surface of said record-strip, and the holding-bar 13 upon the opposite side from the roll 11 is lowered 75 to engage said carbon or duplicating strip. The second or duplicating check-strip is then extended over the upper side of said duplicatingpaper, and the duplicatingpaper is folded back over the previously-lowered hold lug-bar and over the upper surface of said duplicating checlnstrip to the opposite side of the writing-plate, and the other holdingbar is then lowered to secure the end of the duplicating-strip; and, finally, the third or original check-strip is extended over the writing-plate in contact with the previously-arranged portion of the duplicating-strip, and the extremities of the free paper strips are engaged by the feed-rolls. 9o

Adjacent to the feed-rolls, and in position to receive and support the paper strips as they leave the latter, is a platform or platen 14, the upper surface of which is arranged substantially in the plane of the upper surface of the 5 lower feed-roll, whereby the paper strips traverse said platform or platen after leaving the feed-rolls. Arranged at the opposite side edges of the platen orplatform are guideclips 15, under which the side edges of the ion strips fit in traversing the platform, and at the opposite edge of the platen or platform from the feedrolls is a stationary knife or cutter 16.

Located above the platform or platen and supported by means of suitable brackets 17 is a follower 18, provided with terminal lugs 19, fitting in parallel upright guideways 20 in the inner sides of said brackets 17, and fitted removably in a recess 21 in the under side of said follower is a type-block 22. Journal-blocks 23 are fitted in notches 24: at opposite ends of the type-block 22, and in said journal-blocks are mounted the trunnions of the ribbon-rolls 25, carrying a ribbon 26,

which extends across the face of the typeblock in position to be embraced by the latter upon the surface of the uppermost strip upon the platform or platen.

The means for operating the printing mechanism consist of rack-bars 27, fitted in said guideways 20, which extend downward into the body portion of the casing, a transverse spindle 26, mounted in bearings in opposite side walls of the casing, pinions 29, carried by said spindle and meshing with the teeth of the rack-bars, and a crank 30, fixed to one end of said spindle. Attached at one end to the spindle and at the other end to a fixed portion of the casing is a return-spring 31, by which the spindle is returned to its normal position to re-elevate the printing follower after its depression by the operation of said crank.

Iivotally connected to the edge of the platform or platen, adjacent to the stationary knife-blade 16 and at opposite ends thereof, are the movable blades 32, which are connected by links 33 with the follower and are adapted to be depressed by the latter to coact with the stationary knife-blade and sever the checks simultaneously with the stamping of a new original check.

The means for filing the record-checks as they are successively detached from the strip by means of cutting mechanism consist of a tiling-pin 34, which is hinged or otherwise pivotally connected at its lower end to a stationary part of the casing, and is normally held in an uprightposition by means of an actuating spring 35 and the filing-springs 36 and 37, which are below the plane of the platform or platen and between the same and the upper extremity or point of the tiling-pin, and are adapted to engage and depress the recordcheck and impale the same upon the filingpin. The spring 36 is secured at one end adjacent to and below the feed-rolls, the arms thereof being provided with coils 38 to increase its resilience. Said spring 36 is further provided at its opposite or looped end with the guide-eyes 39, through which pass the arms of the spring 37, said arms of the spring 37 being attached to the side walls of the easing, as shown at 40. The looped portion of the spring 37 is reduced to form the looped finger 4], which is arranged normally above the plane of the arms of the spring 36, whereby a record-check, as it is detached by means of the cutting mechanism, falls under said finger and above the spring 36. In connection with this mechanism I also employ a separating flange 42, which is located adjacent to and substantially in the plane of the u ppersurface of the platform or platen and adapted to separate the lower or record check from the upper and intermediate or original and duplicate checks and guide the former into the easing to be engaged by the filing-springs and guide the latter outward in position to be grasped by the operator. After the bill or check has been prepared by writing upon the original while the latter is over the writing plate, the feed-rolls are operated to advance the strips until the proper extension thereof beyond the cutting mechanism has been attained. The handle 30 is then turned to depress the follower and simultaneously operate the cutting devices, and simultaneously or immediately following the detachment of the checks from the continuous strips the spring 36 receives a downward impulse by means of shoulders or projections on the rack-bars 27. thus impartinga downward movement to the free end of the spring 37 and engaging the record-check with the tiling-pin. Said projections or shoulders on the rack-bars may be of any preferred construction or arrangement to allow a considerable movement of such bftl'n independentof the filing-springs orbeforesaid tiling-springs receive the impulse necessary to file the check, and in the construction which I have illustrated inthe drawings this partial independent movement of the rack-bars and subsequent imparting of motion to the springs is accomplished by means of slots 43, through which the arms of the spring 36 extend. In addition to the above-described mechanism 1 also employ means for permanently tying or connecting the recordchecks, to facilitate their removal from the casing and maintain them in compact form for subsequent permanent deposit in a suitable place, the same consisting of a filing-cord 44, which is threaded through an eye 45 near the upper extremity of the tiling-pin,whereby as the record-checks are engaged with the filing-pin said filing-cord is passed through the opening thus formed. This filingcord is supplied, as required, by a spool 46, which is mounted upon a stem 47 in the casing. The hinging or pivoting of the tiling-pin is designed to facilitate the removal of the checks therefrom by way of the door or closure 48, which is arranged in the opposite end from the paper-supply rolls. Said filingpin may by this arrangement be bent downward into a substantially horizontal position to enable the operator to remove the checks and at the same time tie them by means of the filing-cord, and when released the filing-pin resumesits normal orupright position through the action of the spring 35.

It is obvious that the feeding mechanism is independent of the printing and filing mechanisms, and hence a check of any desired length may be prepared before it is severed.

IIO

In other words, the length of a check may be made to suit the size of the bill or list of articles inscribed, and hence waste of paper is avoided when short bills are made out, and all of a single bill may be arranged upon one check when the bill is of unusual length.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an autograph register, the combination with a casing having a writing plate, a plurality of paper feed rolls mounted therein, a common direction or guide roller arranged at one end of the writing plate, and means for feeding and cutting the strips supplied by said f eed rolls, of a carbon or duplicating paper supply roll arranged parallel with and contiguous to one side edge of the writing plate and adapted to contain a single continuous strip of carbon or duplicating paper, and holding devices arranged contiguous to the opposite side edges of the writing plate and disconnected throughout their length from the writing plate, whereby the carbon or du plioating paper may be extended around the same to provide for carrying said paper across the plate and doubling it upon itself to form a plurality of layers, substantially as specified. v

In an autograph register, the combination with a casing having a writing plate and a plurality of paper feed rolls mounted therein, a direction or guide roller being arranged at one end of the writing plate, of a carbon paper supply roll arranged parallel with and adjacent to one side of the writing plate and adapted to contain a single continuous sheet of carbon or duplicating paper, holding bars pivotally connected at one end to the casing approximately in the plane of the writing plate and adapted to normally rest upon said plate parallel with and contiguous to its side edges, the carbon or duplicating paper from said supply roll being adapted to be extended transversely across the writing plate,-carried around the opposite holding bar and returned to the side adjacent to the supply roll with its extremity secured by means of the holding bar adjacent to the supply roll, and feeding devices for operating the strips of paper supplied by the feed rolls, substantially as specired.

3. The combination with a casing having a writing-plate, paper supply-rolls, means for guiding the strips from said rolls, and carbon or dnplicatin g paper holding devices for maintaining carbon or duplicating paper in operative relation with the strips as they traverse the writing-plate, of feeding devices, a platform or platen arranged adjacent to the feeding devices, printing mechanism having a type-carrying follower arranged to approach and recede from the plane of the platform or platen, means for operating said follower, and a cutting device operatively connected with the follower, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a casing having a writing plate, paper supply-rolls, guiding and feeding devices for the strips, and means for holding carbon or duplicating paper in operative relation with the portions of the strips which are upon the writing-plate, of a plat-- form or platen, a type-carrying follower arranged to approach and recede from the plane of the platform or platen, means for operating said follower, and a cutting device comprising a stationary blade arranged adjacent to one edge of the platform or platen, and a movable blade arranged in operative relation with the stationary blade and connected with the follower, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a casing having a writing plate, paper-supply rolls arranged in the casing, means for guiding and feeding the strips from the paper rolls, and holding devices to maintain carbon orduplicating paper in operative relation with said strips upon the writing plate, of a platform or platen, a reciprocal type-carrying follower mounted for movement perpendicular to the plane of the platform or platen, means for operating said follower, a stationary cutting blade fixed to one edge of the platform or platen, movable cutting blades pivotally connected at theirouter extremities to the platform or platen contiguous to the stationary blade, and links connecting the free ends of said movable blades with the follower, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a casing having a writing plate, paper supply-rolls arranged in the casing, paper guiding and feeding devices, and means for holding carbon or duplicating paper in operative relation with the strips on the writing-plate, of a platform or platen, a type-carrying follower arranged to approach and recede from the plane of the platform or platen, means for operating said follower, inking mechanism having a ribbon arranged in contact with the type on the follower, and opposite ribbon rolls or spools mounted in and carried by the follower and holding said ribbon in its operative position, and cutting devices operatively connected with the follower, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a casing having a writing-plate,paper supply-rolls, guiding and feeding devices for the paper strips, and means for holding carbon or duplicating paper in operative relation with the strips upon the writing-plate, of a platform or platen, a follower arranged to approach and recede from the platform or platen, means for operating the follower, a type-block fitted in a seat or recess .in the face of the follower, journal-blocks removably fitted in cavities atopposite ends of the type-blocks, ribbon-rolls or spools mounted in said journal-blocks, a

III)

ribbon attached at its ends to said ribbonrolls or spools and extending across the face of the 'ype-block, and cutting devices operatively' connected with the follower, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with aeasing, paper supply-rolls, and feeding and guiding devices for the paperstrips, of printing mechanism, means for operating the printing mechanism, cutting devices operatively connected with ,the printing mechanism, and permanent filing means arranged Within the casing and havinga filing-pin, and movable filing springs connected with the printing mechanism and arranged to engage checks or severed portions of the paper strips with the tiling-pin, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a casing, papcrsupply-rolls, paper guiding and feeding devices, cutting devices and means for operating the same, of filing mechanism having a tiling-pin, filing-springs arranged in operative relation with the filing-pin and adapted to engage checks or severed portions of the paper strips as they leave the cutting devices, and connec tions between the tiling mechanism and the cutting devices, substantially as specified.

10. The combination with a casing, papersupply rolls, guiding and feeding devices for the paper, cutting devices, and means for operating the same, of filing mechanism having a pivotal filing-pin, an actuating spring connected to said filing-pin for maintaining the latter in its operative position, filing springs arranged to engage the checks or severed portions of the paper strips as theyieavethe cutting devices, and operating connections between the filing-springs and the cutting devices, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with a casing, paper supply-rolls, guiding and feeding devices for the paper strips, rack-bars, and means for reciprocating the same, and cutting devices operatively connected with the rack-bars, of tiling mechanism having a filing-pin, and tiling springs connected together forsimultaneous movement, the arms of one of said springs extending through slotted or elongated openings in the rack-bars, substantially as specitied.

The combination with a casing, papersupply rolls, guiding and feeding devices for the paper strips, rack-bars, and means for re ciprocating the same, said rack bars being provided with slotted or elongated openings, and cutting devices operatively connected with therack-bars, of filing mechanism having a filing-pin and oppositely disposed looped filing springs 36 and 37, the former of Which is provided with eyes engaging the sides of the latter and the latter of which is provided with a reduced tongue or loop to engage the checks or portion of the paper strips and depress them upon the tiling-pin, said spring 36 having its arms extended through the said openings in the rack-bars, substantially as specified.

13. In an autograph register, the combination with a writing plate, supply-rolls and duplicating devices, of paper feeding devices, printing mechanism having a follower, cutting mechanism for severing the paper strips, filing mechanism havinga movable part, and connections between the movable part of the filing mechanism and the follower of the printing mechanism, the feeding devices being independent of the printing and filing mechanisms to provide for forming checks of varying lengths substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. NORCROSS.

Titnesses:

L. 0. BRAND, 'lnno. Gamma, 

